Corkmas Parade: Here's everything you need to know about Cork's Christmas parade

Inaugural Christmas parade takes place in the city centre this evening

Christmas is coming to Cork this weekend. Picture: Alison Miles/OSM PHOTO

The first ever Corkmas Parade takes place this evening and will mark the beginning of the Christmas season with the switching on of the lights.

The parade will kick off at 6.30pm, but what route will it take and what can you expect?

Here’s everything you need to know about the inaugural Corkmas Parade.

What is the parade?

The Corkmas Parade will kick off the Christmas season with a 20-30 minute spectacle through the city.

It is the first year the parade will take place and, unlike the hoax Halloween parade in Dublin city centre, this one is definitely going ahead.

It is the first of several festival events taking place in the city this Christmas.

What can I expect?

The Cork Barrack Street Band will be leading the Corkmas Parade through the city centre streets. They will be joined by performers, musicians and dancers from arts organisations including Montfort College of Performing Arts, Joan Denise Moriarty School of Dance, and the Cork Butter Exchange Band.

Strawberry Hill National School students will carry lanterns that they made with Cork Community Artlink.

National arts organisation LUXe will lead a winter fairy tale procession with costumed characters and sculptures. This will include a giant snowflake, crystal dancers and golden baubles, as well as a snow queen and her snow angels and a flying fairground horse.

There will also be a troupe of dancing stars, a sugar plum fairy and a snowman.

Last but not least, the big man himself, Santa Claus, will make an appearance.

Where can I see it?

Kicking off on North Main Street, the procession will then make its way onto Washington Street and the Grand Parade. The main parade will finish on St Patrick’s Street, but Santa and his crew will head on to MacCurtain Street. To ensure his swift return to the North Pole, Mr Claus will then be lead by Garda escort away from the celebrations.

The organisers are recommending North Main Street and St Patrick’s Street for the best viewing points.

What road closures are in place?

Temporary, rolling road closures and bus diversions will be in place between 6pm and 7.30pm. For more details, see corkmas.ie.

Is the parade accessible?

Those with accessibility needs, or their carers, can email [e-mail] with their queries.

What other Christmas events are there?

Winterlee is an immersive winter wonderland held in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, with ice skating, a winter village, and a funfair. It opened up last weekend and runs until January.

Further afield, Winterville in Waterford opens this weekend in Europe's City of Christmas for 2024.